Old Rectory, Warton

The Old Rectory (also known as Parsonage Court) is a ruin of a former rectory in the village of Warton, near Lancaster, Lancashire, England. Owned by English Heritage, it has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument[1] and Grade I listed building.[2]

Old Rectory, Warton
The entrance to the Old Rectory, Warton
Location	Warton, Lancashire
Coordinates	54.1443°N 2.7683°W / 54.1443; -2.7683
Scheduled monument
Official name: Warton Old Rectory
Designated	30 November 1925 [1]
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Old Rectory
Designated	2 May 1968 [2]
Location of Old Rectory, Warton in the City of Lancaster district

Believed to have been constructed in the early 14th century as the official residence of the rector at St Oswald's Church, probably by two of the younger sons of Marmaduke de Thweg. Manorial courts were also held here.[3] Built of limestone rubble walls with sandstone dressings, a cross passage originally separated the full height great hall in the southern side, from service rooms and a first floor chamber in the north. The doorway at the eastern end of the cross passage is interpreted as the main entrance, while the western one led to a garden, both originally had a porch. A doorway in the northern gable wall led to a courtyard with an external kitchen and well. In the south-west corner of the great hall is a doorway that led to another building which survives as part of the modern vicarage.[1] And the southern gable had an ogee quatrefoiled window under the apex to provide light.[2]

It not known exactly when the rectory was abandoned but it was a ruin by 1721.[1][3] Some time later, a cottage was constructed in the north end of the ruin, which was occupied well into the last century, however these additions have since been removed. The ruin is considered to be well preserved with the gables surviving to almost full height[3] and open to the public, free of charge.